After the accession of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir to the Union of India in 1947, the Maharaja had to cede powers to a popular government headed by Sheikh Abdullah. With free democratic elections held for the first time in the state's history, the National Conference won a majority of seats in a new constituent assembly and Sheikh Abdullah became an elected head of government.

In 1957, a new constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly, which established a bicameral legislature.[1]

The Legislative Assembly was initially composed of 100 members, later increased to 111 by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (Twentieth Amendment) Act of 1988.[1] Of these, 24 seats are designated for the territorial constituencies of the state that were occupied by Pakistan in 1947.[1][3][4] These seats remain officially vacant as per section 48 of the state constitution.[1][4] These seats are not taken into account for reckoning the total membership of the Assembly, especially for deciding quorum and voting majorities for legislation and government formation.[1][4] Hence the total contestable and filled seats of the assembly are presently 87.

Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected for a six-year term. The seats are filled by direct election. The assembly may be dissolved before the completion of the six-year term by the Governor upon the advice of the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor may also convene special sessions of both houses of the state legislature.

The Assembly is convened and administered by the Speaker. The leader of the house is usually the Chief Minister, who is the leader of the party (or coalition of parties) whose members constitute a majority. The leader of the opposition represents the party (or coalition of parties) that has won the second-largest number of seats.

On 1 October 2001, armed rebels belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out an attack on the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly Complex in Srinagar using a car bomb and three suicide bombers.[6][7]